#the blackwoods

[horizon-verizon]

PART FOUR of Undeniable Truths Recorded about Dance of the Dragons in F&B

*In Light of Season 2 of HotD*

[PART ONE, TWO, THREE]

note: some of these changes are fine

Alicent & Rhaenyra would never been able to secretly bypass a whole military blockade not just once or twice, but several times to "negotiate" how to put an end to the war without failing spectacularly & revealing themselves; nor even if they could would they want to, since the already-nonsensical-&-self-contradictory Rhaencient rewrite doesn't exist in canon

Jacaerys also visited the Manderlys &Jeyne Arryn aside from Cregan Stark (before Rhaena was sent to Jeyne)

not only did Jeyne Arryn verbalize and show so much more enthusiasm and determination to support Rhaenyra bc of their cousin link/Aemma, she also was for her (despite Daemon) bc she wanted to advance women's positions and safeguard their agency as she herself had to defend her rights against some male cousins despite having been named as heir

Jace's relationship w/Cregan was very clearly stronger than what's implied in the show, where they even made a pact that Jace's future daughter would marry Cregan's heir AND they spent a lot of time just hanging out as "bros" before that

in the show, The Battle of the Burning Mill occurred before any Blackwoods raided any house; in the book/orig story, the battle happened because the Rhaenyra-supporting Blackwoods attacked the green-supporting/declared Brackens and their lands (and only them) as one does at wartime (for all war is bad, this how it be)

in that battle, Samwell was killed by Amos Bracken; Alysanne Blackwood ("Black Aly") Blackwood, Samwell's sister and Benjicot's aunt, then killed Amos in the same battle (Sabitha Frey appears or is named much later, though she would have been active here as well)

obviously, Black Aly existed and she had already distinguished herself in killing Amos Bracken

when the Brackens left their seat (Stone Hedge) behind to counterattack at some random riverside mill, Daemon and his "strong host made up of Darrys, Rootes, Pipers, and Freys" seized Stone Hedge in their absence and took the remaining Brackens (Humphrey, his wife, kids, and paramour) & forced Amos' bastard brother, Raylon Rivers, to surrender

THEREFORE: no Tully or any Riverlord, went to Harrenhal to specifically accuse Daemon of anything in canon precisely because the Blackwoods targeted mostly or only the Brackens (not various riverlords) AND the Brackens had already declared for Aegon while the Blackwoods were for Rhaenyra -- thus these already feuding houses were at opposite sides

THEREFORE: Daemon did not send the Blackwoods to attack a non-discerning and non-anticipating house who was just there to be there; he prepared an attack on both ends against those who were already his sworn queen's enemies -- yes sacking villages is bad, so is war; point is that it wasn't the travesty or unethical by Westerosi standards bec it was all warfare circumstance

Oscar Tully was Grover Tully's great grandson (said ill and frail old man in the show)

Oscar Tully was not the lord of Riverrun/head of House Tully; his brother Kermit was, who was really the one leading the riverlords into battle & glory during and after the Dance

their father, Elmo Tully/Grover's grandson, was lord and he decided to keep the Tullys out of the fighting altogether until until Addam Velaryon basically forced them to (he would die on the march to war from contaminated water)

Grover Tully--remember, that old man show!Oscar mentions as reason for his presence--was fully for Aegon on the basis of maintaining a male's right over a woman's; he was one of those who voted for Viserys or against Laenor/Rhaenys...so Elmo defied his sick father to keep himself and his sons/the household alive

in the Blood & Cheese part, Alicent was there to witness what happened to Helaena and her kids, tied up & gagged before Helaena & her kids entered Alicent's rooms to say their goodnights

Maelor exists; when Blood and Cheese seized Helaena's kids, they forced Helaena into a "game" of choosing which boy would die; she tries to convince them to kill her instead (no necklace) but they threaten to r*pe Jaehaera and kill all her kids, so she reluctantly chooses Maelor to die; the duo instead kill Jaehaerys after Cheese whispers to Maelor his mother wanted him to die

Otto doesn't go anywhere despite possible exceptions he might have taken with Aegon killing many ratcatchers in response to Blood & Cheese

Gwayne Hightower never left KL bc Gwayne became 2nd in command under Luthor Largent, Lord Commander of the gold cloaks

the call for the Sowing didn't involve any of those who might have lived in KL - it was near-exclusively for people at Dragonstone-the-Island bc of the people's close history with the pre-Conquest Targs, who had affairs with or r*ped many of those on the island since they appeared

Jacaerys was the one to come up with the idea of the Sowing

Jacaerys was the one to meet with Corlys on how to attack KL with their dragons, which is how the Sowing came about

Addam had to save Alyn from his own attempt to bond with Sheepstealer; Alyn got badly burnt

Nettles existed, obviously; she became Sheepstealer's rider through patient offerings of sheep each and every morning

Mysaria was nowhere near Dragonstone; she, Rhaenyra, and Daemon meet up again once Rhaenyra and Daemon take KL

Daemon was already in Harrenhal when Luke died; he sent messages to people to plan for Blood and Cheese and was nowhere near KL...again, distances....

Corlys was much more active during this period; mentioned his meetings with Jace; asked/pushed Rhaenyra to legitimize Addam & Alyn

though it's by Mushroom's conclusions, the text makes it very clear that Rhaenyra would not have taken well to Alyn and Addam either living with her own kids nor openly shown to be Corlys' children...and thus so bc bk!Rhaenys was made of musch different stuff than show!Rhaenys...the evidence of such both consistent and as far back as before the GC of 101

Aegon and Aemond went to Rook's Rest together to ambush Rhaenys and it was planned; Criston is cited as one who likely either came up with the ambush himself or at least collaborated with Aemond for that

Aemond did not burn down Sharp Point in frustration over Rhaenyra having gathered her dragons..or any crownland house for that matter; he did burn down several random riverland villages alone on Vhagar after he and Cole found out about KL's fall/Daemon's deceit and Cole left him

[richincolor]

There are four books coming out tomorrow, plus one we missed earlier this month. Which of these have caught your eye?

Flower and Thorn by Rati Mehrotra Wednesday Books

One girl. One boy. A promise broken. A magic stolen. Irinya has wanted to be a flower hunter ever since her mother disappeared into the mysterious mist of the Rann salt flats one night. Now seventeen, Irinya uses her knowledge of magical flowers to help her caravan survive in the harsh desert. When her handsome hunting partner and childhood friend finds a priceless silver spider lily--said to be able to tear down kingdoms and defeat an entire army--Irinya knows this is their chance for a better life. Until Irinya is tricked by an attractive imposter. Irinya's fight to recover the priceless flower and to fix what she's done takes her on a dangerous journey, one she's not sure she'll survive. She has no choice but to endure it if she hopes to return home and mend the broken heart of the boy she's left behind.

If You'll Have Me by Eunnie Viking

Momo Gardner is the kind of friend who’s always ready to lend a helping hand. She’s introverted, sensitive, and maybe a little too trusting, but she likes to believe the best in people. PG, on the other hand, is a bit of a lone wolf, despite her reputation for being a flirt and a player. Underneath all that cool mystery, she’s actually quick to smile, and when she falls for someone, she falls hard. An unexpected meet-cute brings the two together, kicking off the beginning of an awkward yet endearing courtship—but with their drastically different personalities, Momo’s overprotective friend, and PG’s past coming back to haunt her, Momo and PG’s romance is put to the test.

A Bright Heart by Kate Chenli Union Square & Co.

What if you could avenge your own murder? A brilliant young woman gets a second chance at life in this debut YA tale of vengeance, court intrigue, and romance, inspired by classic Chinese tropes. Mingshin outsmarted three princes to help the man she loved become king. But she doesn’t see Ren’s betrayal coming, not until she’s lying in a pool of her own blood on the palace steps. As she’s dying, Mingshin makes a desperate plea to the gods to turn back time and give her a chance to make things right. Mingshin wakes up two years earlier, her prayer granted, and swears two things: Ren will never become king, and she will never fall in love again. But the timeline in this life has changed: a dignitary gifted with dark magic is threatening her kingdom’s peace, and Ren’s thirst for power runs deeper than Mingshin could have imagined. She finds herself allying with Jieh, another contender for the throne. Mingshin knows better than anyone not to give her heart to a prince. But in the viper’s nest of the royal court, she and Jieh prove a phenomenal team. Can Mingshin avert the catastrophe of her past by once again learning to trust…and maybe even love?

All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology edited by Circe Moskowitz Amberjack Publishing

Welcome to the Dark. We are all familiar with tropes of the horror genre: slasher and victims, demon and the possessed. Bloody screams, haunted visions, and the peddler of wares we aren’t sure we can trust. In this young adult horror anthology, fans of Jordan Peele, Lovecraft Country, and Horror Noire will get a little bit of everything they love—and a lot of what they fear—through a twisted blend of horror lenses, from the thoughtful to the terrifying. From haunted, hungry Victorian mansions, temporal monster–infested asylums, and ravaging zombie apocalypses, to southern gothic hoodoo practitioners and cursed patriarchs in search of Black Excellence, All These Sunken Souls features the chilling creations of acclaimed bestsellers and hot new talents, with stories from Kalynn Bayron, Donyae Coles, Ryan Douglass, Sami Ellis, Brent Lambert, Ashia Monet, Circe Moskowitz, Joel Rochester, Liselle Sambury, and Joelle Wellington.

The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert Balzer + Bray

The Blackwoods. Everyone knows their name. Blossom Blackwood burst onto the silver screen in 1962, and in the decades that followed, she would become one of the most celebrated actors of our time—and the matriarch of the most famous Black family in Hollywood. To her great-granddaughters, Hollis and Ardith, she has always just been Bebe. And when she passes away, it changes everything. Hollis Blackwood was never interested in fame. Still, she’s surrounded by it, whether at home with her family or at the prestigious Dupree Academy among Los Angeles’ elite. When private photos of Hollis are leaked in the wake of Blossom’s death, she is thrust into the spotlight she’s long avoided—and finds that trust may be a luxury even she can’t afford. Ardith Blackwood has always lived in the public eye. A television star since childhood, she was perhaps closer with Blossom than anyone—especially after Ardith’s mother died in a drug overdose. Ever since, she has worked to be everything her family, her church, and the public want her to be. But as a family secret comes to light and the pressures from all sides begin to mount, she wonders what is left beneath the face she shows the world. Weaving together the narratives of Hollis, Ardith, and Blossom, award-winning author Brandy Colbert tells an unforgettable story set in an America where everything is personal, and nothing is private.

[anyablackwood]

Unusual Associations Tag

Thanks for the tag, @mysticstarlightduck! Picking Hope Blackwood for this one!

Rules: "pick an OC and describe what you associate with them in each category"

Seasoning: Garlic

Weather: Just above chilly

Color: Black

Sky: Overcast, but not too dark

Magical Power: Communing with the dead

Plant: Moss

Weapon: Dagger

Social media: Tumblr

Makeup: 2009 raccoon emo eyeliner

Candy: Werther's Original caramels, peppermints, Jelly Belly beans

Fear: Sunlight

Method of long-distance travel: Horse, vintage car

Art style: Tim Burton-esque, monochrome

Mythological creature: Vampire

Stationery: Wax seals

Celestial body: Pluto

That's all for Hope! This was pretty fun! I'm kinda curious what vibe people get from her just by this post, lol.

Gently tagging: @amaiguri, @kaylinalexanderbooks, and @paintedbutton because I'm kinda curious what associations you make with your characters!

OPEN TAG to anyone who wants it! I can add you if you want (we don't have to be mutuals!)

[it-feels-pink]

merricat and constance in the book are soooo cheryl and jayjay

[izukuer]

characters have to be a little bit awful in ways that you cant defend. its good for the ecosystem. your honor he did do that. He did in fact do that

[indigonite]

Kept thinking about how weak and disorientated Jon gets when cut off from the Eye, which got me thinking about Martin having to help him as his state got worse.

Surprisingly, instead of getting angsty, I ended up with Jon being carried around like a ragdoll.

[wolfythewitch]

Redraw

[shyaringan]

time travel fix-it but make it Spooky (based on my monster!jon post)

[dekuboya]

Short Jon gender euphoria comic for the soul :,)

[lunehowls]

S2 - S5

[heppileppi]

oop

[horizon-verizon]

girl they made daemon go down on his own mother and are trashing the blackwoods to prop up the brackens. how the fuck does grrm keep getting the worst people to adapt his stories.

EDIT 10/24/24* Daemon was at Harrenhal when the Blackwoods raided several Bracken lands, "despoiled" their septs, and sacked Bracken villages. (Raventree - Blackwoods / Stone Hedge - Brackens)

("The Red Dragon and the Gold")

("A Son for a Son"...the chapter before Red Dragon&Gold)

So it's more than likely that canon!daemon sent the Blackwoods to raid and attack Bracken land, whether he traveled by dragon over/by Stone Hedge to the Blackwoods or by raven. However, no Tully or any Riverlord, went to Harrenhal to accuse Daemon of anything in canon precisely because:

the Blackwoods didn't raid, seemingly, any other house's lands but for their known mortal enemies, the Brackens

the Brackens had already declared their support for Aegon, while the Blackwoods did for Rhaenyra...so yes, Rhaenyra's supporters would attack the Brackens...bc this is a war

several houses had already fought with Daemon against the Brackens as part of his strategy against them

It was not a situation where Daemon willfully decided to have Blackwoods ruin people's lives so he can look good or one where the riverlords saw a huge travesty being done to them. It was warfare.

*END OF EDIT*

I believe that they are making Daemon fantasize about his mother being his only person of faith in him, this person he's been hearing favored him over Viserys, he barely remembers, but whose loss he compartmentalizes selfishly. Whatever, I don't have many good feelings for any of these characters except maybe Jace and Baela. Rhaena barely has personality for me to like or dislike her.

I didn't see it as the Brackens getting propped up, but rather as an invective against Daemon so it matches Rhaenyra's own need for him & his loyalty/another dragonrider(s) and this story promising to reunite these two at some point. Me, I haven't cared-cared since S1 epi10.

Nvm, I just remembered that they apparently raped septas and other women ....the Blackwoods are getting punched by the narrative.

[mewy101]

yeah

[anyablackwood]

OC Deep Dive Tag

Thanks for the tag, @mysticstarlightduck! I'll be using Hope Blackwood for a change <3

What uncommon/common fear do they have?

Banality. (She is edgy and 13)

Do they have any pet peeves?

Ophelia's existence. But especially when she's loud and complains about or to Hope.

What are 3 items you can find in their bedroom?

Books, a dagger, a magnifying glass.

What do they notice first in a person?

Their gaze.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how high is their pain tolerance?

6, at best 7 (though she swears it's 10)

Do they go into fight or flight mode when under pressure?

Depends? If there's a clear physical danger, it's flight. If it's a nonviolent confrontation, fight.

Do they come from a big family/are they a family person?

HUGE family. on the younger end of 10 children. Isn't so much of a "family person" as she's a "put up with them because I begrudgingly love them and my world is too small to have any other perspective" person (but she does love them).

What animal represents them best?

A grumpy but lazy cat.

What is a smell that they dislike?

Extremely heavy perfumes. For a specific scent, boiled broccoli.

Have they broken any bones?

An arm, once.

How would a stranger likely describe them?

Odd, quiet, moody.

Are they a night owl or a morning bird?

Honestly I haven't thought about it. Probably a night owl? Just because she likes being a rebel.

What is a flavor they hate and a flavor they love?

Hates oregano. Loves garlic.

Do they have any hobbies?

Reading, mostly. She used to journal, but then one of her sisters got into her diary, and she hasn't used it since. She also likes animal bones.

Boom, surprise birthday party! How do they react to surprises?

Stunned-still, then pretending to be annoyed (but secretly pleased by the attention). She otherwise hates surprises, though.

Do they like to wear jewelry?

Not particularly. It gets in the way of her usual activities. A simple necklace will do, maybe something sentimental.

Do they have neat or messy handwriting?

Neat.

What are the two emotions they feel the most?

Annoyance and boredom.

Do they have a favorite fabric?

Wool, perhaps? or cotton? IDK I'm not a fabric girly. Something suitable for the weather and breathable.

What kind of accent do they have?

I haven't decided where she lives exactly yet, so I don't have a region-specific answer, but an American accent most likely.

That's all! I really haven't spoken about this story much, which I'll have to get around to, but it's a nice change from constantly thinking about my Traveling Bards story, tbh.

For now, let's do an OPEN TAG! I'll retroactively add you if you asked (we don't have to be mutuals!!!)

[mishoru]

i am so normal about this podcast